The Cat is Too Fat

posted by iHeartMedia’s Nikki Courtney -

Sixty percent of cats are overweight, and dogs aren’t doing much better at 56%. That means most of our pets are obese in a nation where 40% of humans are obese. We are spoiling our pets more than our children and Mutt and Muffy are paying the price.

If you have a cat, Michelle Mantor, publisher of Houston Pet Talk Magazine, suggests limiting their diet to canned food. Much of standard commercially available kitty kibble contains a lot of grains and fillers that are high in carbohydrates, and as in people, that can lead to severe weight issues. This cover story in the current edition details her insight.

“A lot of people will leave kibble out for their cat all day long and you really need to give them canned food rather than letting them have a grazing-adventure all day long” she says. Cats are carnivores, she explains, and require a meal high in protein.

She also recommends outsmarting your feline to get that indoor cat to move. “Interactive toys, a couple 15-minute sessions a day with a laser toy or a fishing pole. You can hide their meals around the house and make them go hunt for it. Make it more of a safari.”

No, you’re not being not being unkind to Felix by stashing his favorite food in a different room each day. Cats hunt for a living when left to their own devices: meals can be more of an artful challenge and less of a mindless habit. What else do they have to do? Allowing your pet to luxuriate in the window for endless hours without moving all day, except to splurge continuously on the always-available dry food, can lead to osteoarthritis, liver disease, hip dysplasia, and diabetes.

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